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Bruce Conner: It’s All True

Defying strict classification and transcending the limitations of any single genre, multimedia artist Bruce Conner will be celebrated in an extensive retrospective at SFMOMA October 29, 2016 – January 22, 2017 after its initial iteration at MoMA NY. Referencing the artist’s inimitable and ever-changing methods, the subtitle of the exhibition — It’s All True — was derived from a letter that the artist wrote to his friend and collaborator, Paula Kirkeby, in 2000, listing the many ways he had been characterized in the media.

Conner, who died in 2008 after having lived in the Bay Area for more than fifty years, is not only a seminal figure regionally, but also nationally and beyond. His avant-garde film work remains a touchstone in the international film scene, as well as across a spectrum of contemporary art. The exhibition at SFMOMA will be the most comprehensive view of Conner’s work to date and will include more than 300 works from all media.

From his early assemblages in the 1950s and 60s to his iconic and pioneering work with the language of film, from his photography and photograms to his prints, drawings and paintings — the sheer diversity of works created during the course of Conner’s career is astounding. With Bruce Conner:It’s All True, SFMOMA pays homage to this exceptional Bay Area artist and places him in an international context, marking the tremendous influence he has had on generations of artists, and continues to exert today.

Bruce Conner: It’s All True

Bruce Conner: It’s All True is the first comprehensive retrospective of this pivotal American artist’s incredible output, bringing together over 250 objects in various media, including film and video, works on paper, assemblages, photographs and photograms, performance, and more.